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Friday, February 27, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays Top of the second or bottom of the ninth?

It’s hard to tell where the Kriseman
administration is with the Rays deal.

Probably the most concerning is the
decision to negotiate with the City Council out of the Sunshine.

The hallmark of the Kriseman candidacy was the
promise to be transparent. Apparently that promise does not completely apply to
the Rays.

While it is not uncommon for City administrations
to assure they have the necessary votes to get an item passed, the profile of
the Rays and the Trop make this behind the scenes dealing feel a bit
uncomfortable.

Following the Mayor’s thumbing of his nose at the
City Council workshop on a new stadium, it seems a bit problematic to be
slinking around from council member to council member trying to build consensus
without a public discussion.

Let’s hope the Kriseman Administration makes the
details of this new deal available to the public before springing it on the
City Council for a vote. In fact there will be a public discussion before a
vote is taken, and once the discussion begins the outcome remains up in the air.

The Rays decision to shun the City Council meeting
to me speaks volumes about how the team feels about the group that has the
final say on their immediate future.

If the objective is to not look like fools or not
get their feelings hurt too late.

Sooner or later the Rays are going go have to show
up and face the real decision makers or go quietly into the night and play till
2027 or someone steps up and buys out the Trop lease.

They don’t want to play in St. Petersburg and they
send that message louder every time they speak publically.

The administration has already burned a lot of
political capital on the Rays and the Trop. Pressing issues are taking a back
seat to baseball.

Baseball will not bring significantly more jobs to
St. Pete.

Baseball will not solve the problems in South St.
Pete.

Baseball will play little or no role in the Pier
decision or outcome.

Baseball will not fix the homeless problem in St.
Pete.

Baseball will not contribute to the building of a
new Police Station.

It is time to focus on what really counts in St.
Petersburg and quit playing at baseball. Mayor Kriseman and the Dream team need to get on
about their business and let Mr. Sternberg worry about his team.E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Twitter@DOCONTHEBAY.
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